Fenton planning commission approves comprehensive zoning-code amendments tied to development plan

FENTON, Mo. — The City of Fenton Planning and Zoning Commission voted Aug. 5 to recommend a package of text amendments to the city zoning code meant to implement goals in the city’s updated comprehensive development plan. The amendments, filed as Case 2024 TXT12, consolidate and clarify multiple earlier proposals and make targeted changes to several Old Town and annexed districts so the zoning code better matches the plan’s stated objectives. Staff said the package is an aggregation of previously reviewed items intended to streamline the code and preserve the character of existing neighborhoods. “Since the adoption of the city’s comprehensive development plan, staff has been bringing forward some text amendments … to meet the goals and objectives stated in the comprehensive plan,” staff member Amy Stark said during the meeting. Stark told the commission the amendments include establishing a new NU district to replace county zoning retained after annexation, creating an R‑5 district to replace the county R‑6A designation for certain multifamily areas, and consolidating two Old Town districts (OT‑1 and OT‑5) where their uses and standards substantially overlap. Commissioners and staff emphasized the changes are intended to align local zoning with the plan and to preserve residential and small‑scale commercial character. “By creating our own new zoning district and rezoning those properties, the intent is to preserve the existing agricultural and residential uses,” Stark told the commission. She also noted the consolidated Old Town districts are meant “to encourage a mix of small scale commercial and residential uses, pedestrian‑oriented activities, and to preserve this as a historic hub of the city.” The commission’s motion to recommend the code amendments to the Board of Aldermen passed on a roll‑call vote. Chairperson Youneman moved the recommendation and Secretary Deb Abbott seconded; the roll call returned unanimous “ayes” from members present. Commissioners and staff clarified at the meeting that the commission’s approval is advisory — the Board of Aldermen must still adopt the ordinance to make the amendments effective. “This vote itself is not the vote to actually effectuate the rezoning. It’s just to adopt the changes in the code that reflect the proposed rezone,” Chairperson Youneman said during the discussion. Staff also said additional, property‑specific rezoning actions tied to the text changes will come before the commission in later agenda items or future meetings and that staff intends to contact affected property owners individually ahead of those hearings. The commission’s recommendation will now go to the Board of Aldermen for final action; staff said notices and public outreach accompanied the draft amendments while they were under review.